‘It was a historic event’: Samson Cree Nation teen sings national anthem in Cree at Blue Jays game

It was a historic scene inside Rogers Centre as 13-year-old Kiya Bruno, decked out in Toronto Blue Jays gear, took the field Saturday afternoon.The Samson Cree Nation teen belted out O Canada in a mix of Cree and English ahead of the Blue Jays game as the team celebrated National Indigenous Peoples Day, which was June 21.“It’s an honour to be representing Indigenous peoples and singing with an Indigenous language at a big event like this,” Bruno said just hours after her performance. “I’m really happy my culture is being put out there.”Bruno’s rendition was the first time the national anthem was sung in an Indigenous language at a Blue Jays game.“I felt really excited, just a little bit nervous before walking out,” she said. “There was a lot of good vibes and everybody was being so supportive.”The young singer said she has only been singing the anthem in Cree for about a year, but has already performed at several Edmonton-area events including a December 2018 Edmonton Oil Kings game and a recent Edmonton Prospects game.Bruno was selected to perform Saturday from a Blue Jays open call for Indigenous artists. She sent in an audition tape of her performance of O Canada and not long after Bruno was on her way to Toronto with her family. She received a customized Blue Jays jersey that she sported during her performance and also had a behind-the-scenes tour of the diamond Friday before the big show.Bruno, who lives in Maskwacis about 100 km south of Edmonton, said she hopes Indigenous culture highlighted on the national stage sparks more historic moments like this one.“I hope it opens more doors. It was a historic event and it’s an honour,” she said. “I’d like to thank the Jays Care Foundation and the Blue Jays for having us.”

Kiya Bruno, a 13-year-old from Samson Cree Nation sang O Canada in Cree and English before the Toronto Blue Jays game at the Rogers Centre Saturday afternoon. (Supplied/Barbara Dumigan)